Loving Page #6

over.

Mildred is comforted by the words even though she doesn’t

entirely trust them. Richard leans in to kiss her. He keeps

his head close to hers.

RICHARD (CONT’D)

I better go.

Mildred tightens her grip. It pains him to separate. They

lean back together on the bed. He pulls his legs up to her.

They lie together on top of the covers. His pants and shoes

still covered in mud from the trek over.

They stay this way for a long time.

54 INT. MILDRED’S PARENTS’ FARMHOUSE - NIGHT - LATER 54

Richard gently shuts the door to Mildred’s bedroom.

He maneuvers to the back of the house but is stopped by the

sight of Garnet.

She doesn’t speak. She just stands in her doorway staring

him down. He feels the weight of this stare.

Unable to plead his case, he averts his eyes and continues

out of the house.

Garnet never moves. She watches him leave.

55 INT. FRANK BEAZELY’S LAW OFFICE - DAY 55

Richard and Mildred, dressed for court, sit in leather wing

chairs in front of a big mahogany desk.

29.

The law office is small, but well appointed. Stacks of books

and files give it a functional feel.

FRANK BEAZELY (O.S.)

We’ll walk over there in a minute,

but I met with the Judge this

morning and I was able to work out

a deal that I think is fair.

FRANK BEAZELY(58) is a polished small town lawyer.

FRANK BEAZELY (CONT’D)

Judge Bazile is a friend, but he is

not a fan of your particular

situation. If you all plead

guilty, the judge is willing to

suspend any prison time.

Mildred lets out an audible sigh of relief. Richard takes

her hand and nods at Frank.

RICHARD:

We’ll do it.

FRANK BEAZELY:

Now in exchange for suspending the

jail time, you and your wife,

unless of course you choose to

dissolve the marriage, will be

forced to leave the state.

RICHARD:

Leave the state? What’s that mean?

FRANK BEAZELY:

It’s exactly what it sounds like.

You will not be allowed to remain

in the state together. Richard,

you’ll be allowed to return for

work, and Mildred can visit, but

the two of you are never allowed to

be in the state at the same time

and certainly aren’t allowed to be

here together.

MILDRED:

For how long? How long will that

last?

Frank chews on his cheek, reluctant to give the details.

FRANK BEAZELY:

Twenty five years.

30.

Mildred is stunned. Richard’s jaw goes slack with disbelief.

RICHARD:

That can’t be right.

FRANK BEAZELY:

Look, you got a year in state

penitentiary, which I remind you

could have been up to five years at

the maximum, you got a year in

prison on one hand or leavin’ the

state on the other. That’s an easy

choice.

Mildred, a panic growing, looks to Richard, but his head is

down. He can’t look at her.

56 EXT. BOWLING GREEN/CAROLINE COUNTY COURTHOUSE - DAY 56

Their dress shoes click across the main street.

Frank leads Mildred and Richard from his office in downtown

Bowling Green over to the courthouse.

FRANK BEAZELY:

Try not to talk unless he directly

asks you a question, which he

won’t.

Frank doesn’t turn to address them as they walk. Richard and

Mildred follow, but aren’t touching.

FRANK BEAZELY (CONT’D)

Just like we talked about, he’ll

ask what you plead, you say guilty,

and this’ll be over quick enough.

Richard tries to catch Mildred’s eye, but she’s keeping her

head down.

They reach the lawn that connects the courthouse to the jail.

57 INT. JUDGE BAZILE’S COURT ROOM - DAY 57

It’s a picture perfect small town county courthouse. One

large, open room with an upper and lower gallery. All

polished wood and natural light from tall shuttered windows.

Richard and Mildred sit at one of two tables in front of the

judge’s elevated bench. Frank Beazely sits next to them with

his hands folded in front of him.

31.

They listen to the COURT SECRETARY reading the charges aloud.

There is no jury, but a BAILIFF stands by a rear exit.

COURT SECRETARY:

...the said Richard Perry Loving,

being a white person and the said

Mildred Dolores Jeter being a

colored person, did unlawfully and

feloniously go out of the state of

Virginia, for the purpose of being

married in the District of Columbia

on June 2nd, 1958, and afterwards

returned to and resided in the

County of Caroline, State of

Virginia, cohabitating as man and

wife against the peace and dignity

of the Commonwealth.

The Court Secretary takes a seat as JUDGE BAZILE(68) shuffles

some papers at his bench. He’s a withered looking man in

horn-rimmed glasses.

JUDGE BAZILE:

Stand.

Frank stands, cuing Richard and Mildred to do the same.

JUDGE BAZILE (CONT’D)

How do you plead?

RICHARD:

Guilty.

MILDRED:

Guilty.

JUDGE BAZILE:

The court doth accept the pleas of

guilty and fix the punishment of

both accused at one year each in

jail.

Richard looks to Frank, who keeps an unflinching stare ahead.

32.

JUDGE BAZILE (CONT’D)

The court does suspend said

sentence for the period of twenty-

five years upon the provision that

both accused leave Caroline County

and the State of Virginia at once

and do not return together or at

the same time to said county and

state for a period of twenty-five

years. Do either of you have

anything to say?

Richard drops his eyes. He shakes his head, “no.”

Mildred looks up to the Judge, still processing this. She

slowly shakes her “no” as well.

JUDGE BAZILE (CONT’D)

You’re released from custody.

Settle your court costs with the

clerk.

Judge Bazile smacks a gavel and stands to exit the court.

As Frank Beazely packs up his things, Mildred and Richard

stand frozen.

58 INT. CAROLINE COUNTY COURTHOUSE/CLERK’S OFFICE - DAY 58

The Clerk tabulates on a form.

Richard and Mildred stand in front of his desk. Richard

holds his wallet. Mildred looks dazed.

CLERK:

It’s 36 dollars and 29 cents a

piece.

Richard opens his wallet and begins counting cash.

59 EXT. MILDRED’S PARENTS’ FARMHOUSE - DAY 59

Richard ties down luggage loaded on the top of their car.

Mildred’s parents, along with Garnet, stand at the steps of

the porch. Mildred explains her writing on a piece of paper

to her mother.

MILDRED:

The first number is Nancy’s brother

Alex.

(MORE)

33.

MILDRED (CONT'D)

His wife Laura is there most days.

If you need to get us, just call.

MUSIEL:

Okay.

Mildred hugs her mother tight. Moving to her father, she

begins to tear up.

MILDRED:

Daddy?

THEOLIVER:

You okay.

Mildred approaches Garnet who stands with arms crossed.

Mildred hugs her, but Garnet can’t handle it. She breaks

free and levels a finger at Richard.

GARNET:

You knew what you was doin’ takin’

her up there! You had no right for

that!

Richard doesn’t argue, just deflects with a nod.

Garnet storms into the house. Mildred watches her go, barely

able to keep it together.

Richard holds his hand out.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes